English · Slang Attested

associate

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A person united with another or others in an act, enterprise, or business; a partner or employee.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Allow me to introduce my business associates, Alice and Bob, who are senior VPs for ops and strategy, respectively.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

Somebody with whom one works, coworker, colleague.

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

A companion; a comrade.

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

What does “associate” mean?

A person united with another or others in an act, enterprise, or business; a partner or employee.

Is “associate” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.